Ladder Up has Record Year, Providing Free Tax Services to Over 20,000 Illinois Clients this Season

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• USA - English

CHICAGO, April 10, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Ladder Up, a non-profit organization providing free financial programs including tax return preparation for eligible individuals and families, announced today that it has already serviced over 190,000 families during the 2019 tax season to date and helped clients secure more than $34 million in tax refunds. With less than one week to go before the regular tax filing deadline, the organization projects that it will serve an additional 2,000 clients by April 15.

In September of 2018, Ladder Up acquired the Center for Economic Progress, an organization with a long and robust history of providing free tax preparation and other financial services. Because of this strategic alliance and thanks to the dedication of the volunteers from both legacy organizations, 2019 will be Ladder Up's most productive tax season yet.

Ladder Up engages hundreds of IRS-certified volunteers each year to help thousands of eligible taxpayers secure critical tax credits and refunds. This season, more than 1,000 volunteers have helped low-income Illinois taxpayers prepare their tax returns, while also providing financial resources and opportunities to help them become more financially resilient and move up the economic ladder.

"The Tax Assistance Program leverages the time and talent of volunteers to help clients get all of the tax credits they are due to ensure they get the biggest refund possible. Among these credits is the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which alone can total more than $6,400 per return for eligible taxpayers," said Christine Cheng, executive director, Ladder Up. "We are excited to be having a banner year and to have the opportunity to serve more clients and return more money to them than in any other tax season to date."

Unfortunately, 20 percent of taxpayers who qualify for the EITC don't claim it and in Illinois, and 55 percent of taxpayers who do claim the EITC, file their taxes through a paid preparer, which can cost more than $150 per return. For many of Ladder Up's clients, a tax refund is their biggest paycheck of the year, and Ladder Up has helped these families keep as much of their refund as possible so they can meet basic needs, pay their bills, and save for the future.

"The 2019 tax season is the first in which the new tax laws have been in effect, and client demand has been very high. We expect it to continue at a steady pace through the filing deadline. Ladder Up will also hold off-season tax preparation sessions over the summer and into the fall as we know some clients have tax needs that exist beyond April 15th," added Cheng.

Ladder Up encourages families and individuals to utilize the free services it provides and to save the money that would have paid to a commercial tax preparer. Clients can find more information about eligibility and Ladder Up service locations at http://www.goladderup.org. Ladder Up currently operates 27 sites in Chicago and its suburbs and one site in Springfield, Illinois. Many sites will provide services through the filing deadline of Monday, April 15, 2019. Site hours and locations are available at https://www.goladderup.org/locations

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About Ladder Up
Ladder Up provides hardworking people with the financial resources and opportunities they need to move up the economic ladder. Founded in 1994, Ladder Up provides free financial programs to help clients secure the tax refunds they deserve, gain the knowledge to navigate today's complex financial systems, and obtain financial aid to make college dreams a reality.

In the fall of 2018, Ladder Up acquired Center for Economic Progress, which will enable the organization to provide expanded tax, financial education, and asset-building services and add legal aid to the organization's program portfolio.

Since Center for Economic Progress' founding in 1990 and Ladder Up's founding in 1994, the two organizations have generated a combined total economic impact of $1.15 billion.

SOURCE Ladder Up